Walkthrough

Alan Wake will not be able to injure the humanoid enemies (Taken) without first using the torch (flashlight) or other lightsource to dissipate the "dark" force field around the enemy.

Once the ""night/dark" shield is gone, earthly methods of killing will allow you dispatch enemies. Alternately, you can try luring enemies to live electrical wires, shoving them off cliffs (use a shotgun for maximum pushback; works with or without shields active), letting them touch the lit area around a safezone, or simply running them over with a car.

Spam the battery reload button to keep the light from the flashlight strong. Weak beams of light will not injure enemy shields.

For poltregeist / possessed inanimate objects, use the torch and diminish the "dark presence" on the item. Once the object's "dark HP" is drained, the object disappears. Alternately, you can lure these objects (the ones that move) to charge themselves into pits or death pits, destroying them instantly.

Apart from that, your only goal is to reach a specific location on the map. Once you do, you automatically end the level.

As soon as you interact with a generator, press the JUMP (Action or A button) to struggle. The ticker starts once Wake bends over (like a boss) and that shaves the ½ second that can save your sorry ass from serious injury.

Generators are strewn all around the game. Using one simply puts you on a mini-game where you time the button press with the ticker on a wheel. This is easy, like ranking in last at the Olympics -- which aren't really much of a challenge at all.